Rossetti – Froth
Initial Responses Development of ideas and
interpretations (red)
Meaning / Ideas / Themes constructed and explored by the poet Meaning / Ideas / Themes
constructed and explored by the
- explores the idea of Rossetti’s relationship with God
poet
- the suspended main clause resolves the ambiguity in the
-
penultimate and final lines→ considers how everything in life,
including hopes and endeavours, can be considered hopeless
and thus pointless with devotion to God, and placing those
hopes in God
- the poem may be considered a warning as to the pointlessness
of endeavouring anything in life if we don't put our hopes in God
to guide and support us
- speaks to the futility of life without God
Use of form Use of form
- strict iambic tetrameter until the final line written in trimeter
- final line= also the shortest line in the poem- simplicity in the
final line’s transgression from the poem’s conventions→
suggesting perhaps the simplicity of Rossetti’s message that our
lives find meaning and purpose more easily if one establishes a
meaningful relationship with God, or the simplicity of her
relationship with God itself- purity and devotion
- maintains regular rhyme scheme (ABACABC)- allows poem to
end w a rhyming couplet that also forms a rhyme w the second
line → forms a link between the end and beginning of the poem-
otherwise would seem harshly severed from each other in
meaning
- allows the poem to maintain fluency and link the idea conveyed
at the end of the poem to be applicable to the similes running
throughout the first six lines
- whole poem consists of one sentence- conveys one simple but
significant message
Use of structural devices (include key terms) Use of structural devices
Initial Responses Development of ideas and
interpretations (red)
Meaning / Ideas / Themes constructed and explored by the poet Meaning / Ideas / Themes
constructed and explored by the
- explores the idea of Rossetti’s relationship with God
poet
- the suspended main clause resolves the ambiguity in the
-
penultimate and final lines→ considers how everything in life,
including hopes and endeavours, can be considered hopeless
and thus pointless with devotion to God, and placing those
hopes in God
- the poem may be considered a warning as to the pointlessness
of endeavouring anything in life if we don't put our hopes in God
to guide and support us
- speaks to the futility of life without God
Use of form Use of form
- strict iambic tetrameter until the final line written in trimeter
- final line= also the shortest line in the poem- simplicity in the
final line’s transgression from the poem’s conventions→
suggesting perhaps the simplicity of Rossetti’s message that our
lives find meaning and purpose more easily if one establishes a
meaningful relationship with God, or the simplicity of her
relationship with God itself- purity and devotion
- maintains regular rhyme scheme (ABACABC)- allows poem to
end w a rhyming couplet that also forms a rhyme w the second
line → forms a link between the end and beginning of the poem-
otherwise would seem harshly severed from each other in
meaning
- allows the poem to maintain fluency and link the idea conveyed
at the end of the poem to be applicable to the similes running
throughout the first six lines
- whole poem consists of one sentence- conveys one simple but
significant message
Use of structural devices (include key terms) Use of structural devices
